AFRICAN WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 11

AFRICAN WAR

ITALIAN CLAIMS MORE TOWNS TAKEN ACTIVITY ON FRONTS AEROPLANES DAMAGED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 20, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, April 25 It is claimed that the Italians in Abyssinia have captured Warra Hailu, 45 miles south-west of Dessye ; also that they have advanced along the Fafan Valley on the southern front. An unconfirmed report states that mechanised unit's captured Sasa Ban eh. Marshal Badoglio, in a communique, claims to have occupied the whole of the Lake Tsana zone. General Verne, on the western front, after bitter counter-attacks, captured Dagamedo, and now is in position and ready to advance toward Ragahur. General Agostini is advancing from Kurat and has occupied Gunagado, the pivotal position of the Abyssinian left. Abyssinian anti-aircraft fire seriously wounded two Italian pilots and damaged seven warplancs. All landed safely.

OVER THE CAPITAL INVADERS' AEROPLANES RECONNOITRING FLIGHTS (Received April 26, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 25 Despatches from Addis Ababa state that two Italian aeroplanes reconnoitred the capital within 50ft. of the ground. The occupants closely inspected the aerodrome and the Royal Palaces in spite of rifle-fire. Another Italian aeroplane encircled the capital at a great height as the railway station was crowded with people who were seeing off the members of the Dutch ambulance unit and other Europeans who were going to Jibouti. In spite of the fact that heavy rain is impeding both the Italian advance and the supplying of the Abyssinians with food, Ras Kabada's troops each night are harrying the Italian Askari division at Dessye. General Verne's Italian column captured a caravan. The main column then pushed on toward Sasa Baneh and Dagabur and occupied Goddade and Gabrehor.

AIR PILOT'S RUSE MACHINE FOR ETHIOPIANS FRENCH AUTHORITIES ELUDED (Received April 26, 6.35 p.m.) PARIS. April 25 Rene Drouillet, the Emperor Haili Selassie's aerial expert, whom the French ' authorities have persistently prevented on various excuses from flying a new aeroplane to Addis Ababa, to-day secured permission to test the brakes. Suddenly he put on speed, ascended and disappeared from the Villa Coublay aerodrome.

IL DUCE'S SPEECH PROGRESS OF CAMPAIGN ITALY'S INDOMITABLE WILL (Received April 2G. 5.5 p.m.) ROME. April 25 Driving a motor plough to-day Signor Mussolini traced the boundaries of the new city of Aprilia. In a brief speech he said the victorious progress of the African campaign was another proof of Italy's methodical and indomitable will-

. DUMDUM BULLETS REPORTS FROM ITALY CHARGE AGAINST ETHIOPIANS British Wireless RUGBY, April 23 In reply to a question in the House of Commons, the Foreign Under-Secre-tary, Viscount Cranborne, said the Italian allegation of the use of dumdum bullets by Abyssinian forces was being dealt with by the League. Suggestions about the supply by British firms, either directly or indirectly, of dumdum ammunition to the Ethiopian Government for military purposes had been fully investigated and found to bo entirely baseless.